The luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin (LH/CG) receptor (R) is a heptahelical R that, upon agonist binding, activates the stimulatory guanine nucleotide-binding protein (Gs) and the downstream effector adenylyl cyclase (AC). Like other G protein-coupled Rs, the LH/CG R subsequently exhibits reduced agonist-dependent effector activity, or desensitization, in response to saturating agonist. U...

There is considerable controversy over whether μ-opioid receptor (MOPr) desensitization is homologous or heterologous and over the mechanisms underlying such desensitization. In different cell types MOPr desensitization has been reported to involve receptor phosphorylation by various kinases, including G-protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs), second messenger and other kinases as well as pert...

Rhinovirus (RV) infections account for approximately two thirds of all virus-induced asthma exacerbations and often result in an impaired response to β2 agonist therapy. Using an in vitro model of RV infection, we investigated the mechanisms underlying RV-induced β2 adrenoceptor desensitization in primary human airway smooth muscle cells (ASMC). RV infection of primary human bronchial epithelia...

Previous studies of secretion from basophils have demonstrated the phenomenon called nonspecific desensitization, the ability of one IgE-mediated stimulus to alter the cell's response to other non-cross-reacting IgE-mediated stimuli, and a process that would modify phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-phosphate levels was speculated to be responsible for nonspecific desensitization. The current studies e...

The frequency of hypersensitivity reactions (HSR) to drugs has risen in the last 10 years owing to increased exposure to better and more allergenic medications including monoclonal antibodies. HSRs prevent patients from using their first-line therapy, leading to decreased quality of life and life expectancy. Although premedication with antihistamines, leukotriene blockers, and corticosteroids c...

The carboxy-terminal cytoplasmic regions of the rat neurokinin 1 (substance P) and neurokinin 2 (neurokinin A) receptors have been exchanged to determine if this region of the neurokinin 1 receptor is involved in its desensitization. When expressed at similar levels in stably transfected Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines, receptors containing the carboxy-terminal region of the neurokinin 1...

The time course of synaptic conductance is important in temporal precision of information processing in the neuronal network. The AMPA receptor (AMPAR)-mediated EPSCs at the calyx of Held become faster in decay time as animals mature. To clarify how desensitization and deactivation of AMPARs contribute to developmental speeding of EPSCs, we compared the decay time of quantal EPSCs (qEPSCs) with...

Desensitization of P2Y2 receptor-activated anion secretion may limit the usefulness of extracellular nucleotides in secretagogue therapy of epithelial diseases, e.g., cystic fibrosis (CF). To investigate the desensitization process for endogenous P2Y2 receptors, freshly excised or cultured murine gallbladder epithelia (MGEP) were mounted in Ussing chambers to measure short-circuit current ( I s...